Syria's Assad pays surprise visit to Russia

The United States has slammed what it calls Russia's "red carpet welcome" for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, after the Syrian leader paid a surprise visit to Moscow.

Syria's Assad pays surprise visit to Russia

President Assad met Russian President Vladmir Putin for talks during his first foreign visit since Syria's war broke out in 2011.

 

Details about the discussions between President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Moscow will not be revealed.

 

But after the meeting, Mr Assad made a point of thanking Mr Putin for his support, saying Russia's actions in Syria have prevented what he calls "terrorists" from seizing larger areas in his country.

 

"Terrorism which has now spread throughout the region, would have taken much larger areas, and would have spread to larger territory and beyond if it were not for your actions and your decisions."

 

Russia launched air strikes in Syria last month, saying it was hitting I-S positions, which are also being targeted by US-led airstrikes.

 

But Western countries and Syrian activists say the Russian planes have been hitting non-IS targets, other opponents of Mr Assad's government, some of which are Western-backed.

 

It's a claim Russia denies.

 

Mr Putin says the situation in Syria is of great concern to Russia.

 

"The attempts of international terrorism to control large territories in the Middle East, and to destablise the situation in the region draw concerns in many countries. Russia is also concerned about this, especially considering there at least 4,000 armed fighters who are now battling the Syrian government, and are from the former Soviet republics."

 

The United States says Russia's effusive welcome of President Assad is at odds with Russia's stated goal of achieving a political transition in Syria.

 

A separate comment from the US State Department said it was not surprised by Mr Assad's visit to Moscow.

 

Department spokesman John Kirby says the visit, and Russia's air campaign in Syria, will not be helpful in ending Syria's civil war.

 

"Our concern from the very beginning was that this would potentially embolden Assad and to preserve his ability to hold on to power longer at the expense of the opposition and at the expense of innocent Syrian people."